I am usually pretty good at reading labels and weeding out foods that don’t meet my own personal healthy guidelines. I strive to find products that are made with whole grains that offer more health benefits, lots of fiber and products that taste good as well as being good for me.

Over the holidays I wasn’t taking the time to read labels as I purchased some things in my very busy crowded Trader Joes! I ended up with two breads that although they tasted okay they don’t quite measure up to a hearty whole grain bread or the nutritional standards I like to maintain.

Buzz words like multi – grain doesn’t mean whole grain! Multi grain isn’t any good nutritionally if they are all refined grains.

Check out the ingredients and when it starts with the words “enriched” you know you don’t have a whole grain product. Had I read the ingredients rather than just glancing at the labels I would never have purchased these two breads.

This bread tastes pretty good but it is not at all filling. Katy picked this one out and since we didn’t read the label we didn’t know that it contained buckwheat flour which she is allergic to. We found out after she took a few bites and got that itchy throat thing going on, then we looked at the label. Lesson learned, read the ingredients before you buy!

Just looking at this loaf of bread it looks like a good pick. It had the right buzz words, Fat free, Multi Grain, No Preservatives, No Artificial Flavors! The ingredients list once again starts out with enriched flour. Bummer! It was right there on the front of the label too. This bread tasted really sweet and was not filling at all. It was pretty high in carbs for me. I won’t be buying it again. This is not a healthy choice.

Why buy Whole Grain products?

Whole Grain means the grain still has all three of its original elements.

1. the outer shell,or brand which contains fiber, and B vitamins.

2. the germ, which contains phytochemicals and B vitamins.

3. the endosperm which contains carbohydrates and protein.

The key is that they are whole and not “refined.” With Whole Grain you get more fiber and more micronutrients that help protect you against disease. They are absorbed more slowly than enriched or bleached flour and therefore they raise your glucose and insulin levels less, keeping you fuller longer and slowing down the digestion process.

This is my top bread choice for a Whole Grain product. I have posted about it before but it is so good that it deserves repeating!

This bread has a great flavor, love it toasted, it is very filling and it doesn’t make me crave more carbs. The sesame seeds really make it awesome! I find it in the freezer section at Whole Foods, Safeway and Raleys or Belair grocery stores. All natural and no preservatives means it spoils quickly that is why it is kept frozen. Only 14 carbs per slice but with 4 g protein per slice which helps to make it filling as well as 3g of fiber per slice.

There are also Food For Life buns, English muffins, cinnamon raisin bread and a plain bread.

My favorite hamburger and hot dog buns are made by the Alvarado ST Bakery. These are made with organic sprouted wheat. They have a nice flavor, are quite filling and don’t create any carb cravings for me. They also make a dinner roll that I like. In my area this brand is sold at Whole Foods and Raley’s and Belair grocery stores. Some Health Food stores also sell it. Note that it says 100% Whole Grain! This is food that tastes good and is good for you.

I keep them in the freezer as they do spoil quickly.

I have to admit that I do enjoy a slice or two of a really good sourdough bread now and then and I have read that because of the fermentation process in making the sourdough bread it has a very low impact on blood sugar levels. You can read more about ithere. That is good news to me. I enjoy eating good bread!

Add Your Thoughts

Do you have a favorite whole grain bread, bun, wrap or bread substitute to share about?

I admit it I love a good bread! Often the best I can find is at local places that bake the bread right on the premises.

The best bread I ever had was on a trip to South Africa where the natives baked it in the bush near the Kruger park!It was a thick multicolored bread with a wonderful taste. It had a name that escapes me but it referred to the many ethnicities that live there together in harmony.

Tami, I am such a label reader (hubby hates to shop with me!) & actually have started a post myself on this but a little different take. I love TJ’s but I always read the labels on everything & especially my love of bread because yes, the title of the bread can be way different than the ingredients. Often the TJ brand of bread does not have as much fiber or protein as I prefer for a slice of bread.

Ezekiel used to be my bread of choice, but taste and texture wise I’ve never had a better tasting store bought bread than Dave’s Killer 21 Whole Grains bread. My husband prefers the Killer Good Seed, but I find it, well, too seedy.

I love bread. LOVE. IT. So I have to be very careful. I honestly don’t buy it very often because I just don’t eat it that much anymore. I use a low cal high fiber wheat right now. I do like those wheat wraps and I enjoy the sandwhich thins sometimes. But even good carb is carb and I have to be careful because I pack on the pounds if my diet is too carb heavy. I love sesame seeds!

I like Ezekiel bread and Alvarado St. tortillas. And, like you, I sometimes really enjoy a good piece of sourdough bread. When it comes to bread, I really try to make sure that it’s “worth it.” By that I mean that I truly enjoy the taste, it has the ingredients I’m looking for, and it fits into my overall food for the day.

I’ve gotten caught on the bread labels, too. I don’t mind so much if it’s a bread I eat sporadically, but for my daily dose, I want whole grain. Ezekiel’s a bit too pricey for me currently, but Kroger carries a line (I’m currently out) that’s not too bad. Big slices, though, so I have it eat halvesies.

Ezekial breads are my favorites as well. I’m with you – if it isn’t 100% whole grain, I don’t buy it. One exception I’m mad at myself for and won’t repeat is that I bought Weight Watchers multigrain Eng. muffins that look like white bread because of their low point tally. Never again – I’m sure the menfolk in my house will happily eat them!

[...] and English muffins are a part of my regular diet as well as sourdough bread. My favorite bread is Eziekel bread and my favorite buns are Alvarado ST Bakery sprouted buns but I know they are pricey [...]